I often get this questioned asked.  

A 1031 Exchange is one of the oldest standing tax laws in the country. Tax-Deferred Exchanges were first introduced in 1921 allowing owners of investment property to defer the payment of capital gains associated with the sale of these properties. This procedure is outlined under the Internal Revenue Code Section 1031, and involves a series of rules and regulations that must be met in order to take full advantage of this great tax benefit.

A Qualified Intermediary, is a third party that helps to facilitate the exchange. Sometimes referred to as "facilitator," or "accommodator." You want to make sure you have a Qualified Intermediary, that has a complete understanding of everything that is involved in utilizing this section of the code and will walk you effortlessly through this process.